ASSOCIATED

UTILITIES AND
AUXILIARY
EQUIPMENT
 Lubrication System
Lubrication systems circulate and cool
sealing and lubricating oils. In some
applications, the sealing and lubricating oils are
the same.
 Seal System
Seal systems prevent process gases from leaking to
the atmosphere where the compressor shaft exits the
casing.

Compressor shaft seals can include:

(a) Labyrinth seal – designed to restrict flow by
requiring the fluid to pass through a series of ridges
and intricate paths. A purge of an inert gas (barrier
gas) is provided at an intermediate injection point on
the seal to prevent external leakage of process gas.
(b) Liquid buffered seal – a close-fitting bushing in which a
liquid is injected in order to seal the process from the
atmosphere.

(c) Dry carbon rings – low-leakage type of seal that can be

arranged with a buffer gas that separates the process gas from
the atmosphere.
 Packing is used in reciprocating compressors to prevent
leakage where the piston rod passes through the crank-end of
the cylinder.
 Anti-surge Devices
Antisurge devices are used to prevent
surging.

Surging is the intermittent flow of

pressure through a compressor that occurs
when a stage fails to pump.
 Antisurge protection
is designed by engineers
to ensure proper and
safe compressor
operation. Compressors
are also designed with
automatic shutdown
initiators (emergency
shutdown switches) to
prevent damage to the
compressor during
abnormal conditions.
 Minimum-flow recycle – compressor discharge
flow is measured. When a flow rate is low enough
to match the minimum critical flow rate of the
maximum flow stage, a recycle valve located
downstream of the discharge opens and spills flow
back to the suction.
 Variable speed driver – controls discharge
pressure. When steam turbine drives are used,
steam flow to the turbine is used to control the
compressor speed.
 Coolers
Coolers are used to cool gases at various stages in the
process.

Pre- First Inter- Second After-

cooler Stage cooler Stage cooler

• Precoolers – used to cool gas before it enters a compressor.

• Intercoolers – used to cool gas between each stage of
compression.
- cool the discharge of the first stage before it enters
the suction to the second stage.
• Aftercoolers – cool the gas downstream from the last stage
once the compression cycle is complete.
 Separators
Separators physically separate two or more components
from a mixture and collect excess moisture vapor from the
compressor application.

 Demister – promotes separation of liquids from gases. It

contains a storage area designed to collect liquid from gas
and separate it from the gas in the system to prevent
damage.
 Desiccant dryers – use chemicals (desiccants to
remove or absorb moisture. These are usually
used in tandem (one in service and one out of
service). These are often used for sensitive
applications like instrument air.